Water purifier for steam boilers



' April zu, 192s. 1,581,122

W. J. HUGHES WATER PURIFIER FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed Dec. 2s,` 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 M/illam J Hay/zes A'roRNEYs April 20 1926. 1,581,122

- w. J. HUGHES WATER PURIFER FOR STEAM'BOILERS Filed neo. 25, 1924 2 shetS-svhe'et 2 INVENTOR BY i ML I ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES FATENTGFFEQE..

WILLIAM J. HUGHES, F MASON CITY, IOWA.

WATER PURIFIER FOR 'STEAM BOILERS.

Application led December 23, 1924. Serial No. 757,658.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, VILLIAM J. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Mason City, in the county of Cerro Gordo and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tater Purifiers for Steam Boilers, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates towater purifiers for steam boilers and has for an object the provision of simple and efficient means which can be positively relied upon to remove insoluble impurities from the water and prevent said impurities from being carried off by the steam and deposited in various part-s of the boiler and in the machinery to which the. steam is delivered.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a standard steam boiler structure showing my water purifying apparatus applied thereto;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through the central steam drum of the boiler taken on the r line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 a transverse section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 a longitudinal sectional View of the sedimentation barrel of the apparatus and its connected pipes;

Fig. 5 a side elevation of a portion of the sedimentation barrel; and

Fig. 6 a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In carrying out the invention, a 'draw-off device is located in the steam drum of the boiler and is so constructed that there will be a static head on it which will ensure a uniform rate of flow of water from the drum at a slight distance below the water level, and throughout the length of the draw-off device. The water removed by the draw-off device is led to a purifying device located below the steam drum. The purifying device is in the form of an inclined settling chamber and the outlet therefrom is connected t0 the lower end thereof and carn ried up a suitable distance above and then down to a point below the purifier to create a static head and thereby regulate the rate of fiow through the 'draw-ofi" device and through the purifier. The height of the up wardly extending part of the discharge pipe from the purifier is governed by the boiler rating and is arranged to ensure the drawrate of purification of the water is therefore regulated in accordance with the boiler rating.V By means of the apparatus herein described the circulation of the necessary volume of water is secured and automatically maintained without the use 0f a pump or an ejector, and a series of bafiie plates may be used in the purifier to aid in throwing 'down the insoluble impurities.

The arrangement of the purifying chamber and the discharge pipe leading there from is such that there isa siphonio effect on the circulation which produces the high velocity in the piping connections required to pass the necessary volume of water through the purifying device.

Referring to the parts by numerals l designates a standard steam boiler' structure. This structure includes steam drums 2, 8 and 4 located at the top of the boiler, and a mud drum 5 located below the ste-am drums and in free communication with the steam drums through three banks of tubes G. Each bank steam drum 2, flows to the mud drum and rises to the same level .in all of the steam drums. The water level in the steam drums is constantly maintained by any suitablev standard form of automatic feed regulator.

rIhe steam generated in the boiler is conducted from the central drum 3 through a pipe 8 which leads .to the machinery to be driven by the. steam or to asuper-heater, not shown.

In the central drum 3, from which the steam is taken, I mount an insoluble collector 9. This collector is in the form of an elongated troughy disposed midwayfof the sides of the drum and extends longitudinally throughout substantially the length of the drum. rIhe longitudinal sides 10 of the trough converge downwardly and their upper edges are disposed in the same horizontal plane. Extending along the bottom of the trough throughout its entire length is a water conduit in the form of a pipe l1. The pipe 11 communicates with the trough through a longitudinal series of small apertures l2 formed in the pipe. tures are spaced along the pipe throughout These aperi the length of the trough and diminish successively in size from one end or" the trough to the other. The trough is mounted with its upper longitudinal edges disposed at a depth of approximately one inch below the constant water level of the drum.

A pipe 13 leads fromthe end of the trough pipe 11 adjacent the smallest of the apertures 12. The pipe 13 extends outside of the boiler structure and is formed adjacent the end of the drum 3 with an upv-Jard bend 13 extending the height of the trough. The water rises in this bend and creates a static head which prevents a short circuit in the lo'w'fof water from the drum through the pipes 11 and 13 and ensures that no water will iow through the pipe 13 until the trough is full. l j

The pipe 13 leads ldownwardly and is connected to a water purifying device 14 located without the boiler structure. The device 14 comprises an elongated cylindrical barrel 15 closed at its ends and disposed at an inclination. Mounted within the barrel 15'1are a series ofspaced baille plates 16'secured to longitudinally extending rods 17. The rods and the baille plates are removable trom the barrel yas a unit when .either ot the end plates 18 -o the barrel is removed anc each of thebatlle plates is formed with an opening V19 at its lower edge and with a second `opening 2() :adjacent its upper edge. The pipe 13 .delivers into the upper side of the inclined barrel adjacent the upper end thereof and the pipe above its point of .de-

, livery is provided'with a manually operable cut-olf valve 21 normally adjusted to open position. l

blow-off pipe l22 leads 'from the 'bottom ot' the mud drum outwardly of the boiler structure and is provided with aiinanually operable cut-off valve k23. r1`his valve is ncrmallry closed, and connected to the pipe 22A, inwardly of the valve is a discharge pipe 24 which leads from the upper side oli' the barrel 15 ,adjacent its lower end. rEhe pipe 24 is provided with a manually operable valve25 normally adjusted to open position. The pipe13, barrel 15, pipe 24 and blowoipipe 22y thus provide a passage for the Water from the steam drum 3 to the mud From the mud drum the water may thentlow through the pipes 6 to the three steam drums. As a consequence of the location yof the water purifier 14 and its connected pipes outside .of the boiler, these parts of the yaI-Jparatus will be much coolerthan the steam drum 3 and will induce Iacontinnous circulation downwardly7 lthrough the water purilier. vThe pipe 24 is formed with an upward bend the height of which is proportioned to the rate of circulation through the draw-oi device :and its piping connec tions necessary to correspond to the boiler rating. For a high rating a low bend is usedand for a low rating a higher bend.

rEhe interior of the barrel 15 ot' the purifier forms a sedi-mentation chamber for retaining the insoluble impurities extracted from the water by the baille plates. Connected to the under side of the barrel 15, adjacent the lower end of said barrel, is a Hush pipe 26 which leads t0 the blow-olf pipe 22 of the mud drum outwardly of the valve 23, r@this pipe 2G is provided with a manually operable valve 27, normally adjusted to closed position.k When lit is desired to flush out the barrel 15 and the mud drum, the valves 27, 21 and 23 are opened and the valve 25 is closed. Both the mud drum and the barrel 15 are then simultaneously flushed out through the blow-off pipe 22. 1f it is `desired to flush out the barrel l15 without flushing' out the 'mud drum, the valve 23 is closed. At the lower end of the barrel a transparent indicator is mounted to indicate when it is necessary to flush out the accumulated sedimentation in thebarrel. There is also a .sample collector 28 mounted at the bottom oi the barrel tor-sampling as in making a test 'for boiler water concentration. This is done immediately after iushing.

The barrel 15 is supported in 'its inclined position by means offbraclrets 29 bolted to thc outside wall oi the boiler.

A'nulnber of decided advantages are -obtained by the use of anY inclined sedimentation chamber.V The inclined arrangement of the barrel expeses its entire length to rising air currents which flow upwardly around the sides of the barrel and tend to .quickly cool it. This rapid cooling 'combined with the pull of gravity dueto the inclination of the barrel induces`the required lcirculation ot water through the sedimentation chamber v-.fithout the use of a pump .or-N an ejector. In addition the barrel, when "so disposed, vprovides a long settling travel for the water passing through it, as the sediment will be precipitated along substantially the entire length of the lower lon-gitudinal side of the chamber. j along substantially the entire .length of its travel through the chamber renders the device extremely eihcient, solthat the water may be circulated at a comparatively rapid raleand still be thoroughly puriied. i

As steam is generated in a boiler .the insoluble impurities :accumulate at and near the surface of the water. This accumulation, if carried off with the steam causes great damage. It causes the steam to go over in belches and prevents the' proper operation of the super heaters; causes the plugs to blow out from over heating and the consequent loss of the boiler until it is cooled dawn and the plugs replaced. In steam turbines the insolubles have a particularly injurious effect. They cause the turbine blades or buckets to till up and also to become Worn rllhis purifica-tion of the waterk or cut away from the sand blasting effect. They also cause the throttle valve to stick and render the governor useless. This last effect has caused some of the most disastrous turbine explosions. Still another annoying effect of the water impurities is their interference with the operation of the automat-ic water feed regulators, causing the water feed to become spasinodic.

Many efforts haveV been made to overcome the difficulties stated, but these efforts have failed, largely because `the insolubles have been allowed to reach the surface ofthe water and to form a scum before attempting to remove them. It is then too late to prevent them passing off with the steam. The present invention draws off the impurities before they accumulate at t-he surface of the water. The collector 9 is placed entirely below the water level, and is so designed that it draws the water from both sides uniformly and continuously throughout the entire length of the steam drum. The water passes simultaneously through all the apertures j 12 spaced throughout the length of the trough and creates a constant and uniform subsurface current directly into the collector from the entire area ofthe drum. The apertures 12 in the trough conduit 11 are equally spaced and their combined area is slightly less than the cross section of the conduit. This assists in creating a high velocity in circulation. In order that the flow should be equal through the apertures 12, the bend 13 in the pipe was provided. The static head caused by the water in this bend causes the fiow to be evenly distributed over the entire surface at all times.

The apparatus operates continuously and automatically and with sufficient rapidity, owing to the design of the insoluble collector and the inclined purifier, to keep pace with boilers of the highest rating. The apparatus has been used with a boiler supplying a turbine, with the result that after a period of twelve months service the turbine buckets were found to be free from deposit of any kind and free from sand blast effect.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for purifying the water for a boiler comprising an elongated trough adapted to be arranged within the steam drum of a boiler and to extend substantially the length thereof with its upper longitudinal edges disposedbelow the water level in the drum; a water draw-off conduit extending along the bottom of said trough; an outlet conduit leading from said draw-off con- 'duit and formed with an upward bend to create a static water head, said draw-off conduit being formed along its length with means for admitting water from the trough vice connected to said outlet conduit and adapted tobe located without the boiler structure and below the trough; and a discharge conduit leading from said purifying device and formed with an upward bend to create a static water head. 2. An apparatus for'drawing off water from the steam drum of a boiler for the purpose of purifying it comprising an elongated trough fo-rmedv with its upper longitudinal edges in the same plane and adapted to be disposed longitudinally within the steam drum below the water level therein, a water conduit extending longitudinally along the bottom of the trough and formed with a longitudinal series of apertures opening into the trough, said apertures diminishing in size from one end of the series to the other, and a water outlet conduit leading from a point in the said apertured conduit adjacent the smallest aperture and formed with an upwardbend extending to substantially the height of the trough t0 create a static water head.

8. An apparatus for purifying water for a boiler 'comprising means forming Van elongated inclined settling chamber, a watercouduit leading to the upper end of said chamber, a plurality of baffle plates spaced longitudinally along the settling chamber and extending transversely across it, the said baffle plates being formed to permit the water and sediment to flow along the lower longitudinal inclined. side of the settling chamber and being also formed to permit the water to circulate through them adjacent the upper longitudinal side of the chamber,

whereby there will be a progressive settling of sediment along the lengthof the chamber in the spaces between the baftie plates, and an outlet water conduit leading from the lower end of the settling chamber an'd formed with an upward bend extending a suitable distance above the settling chamber to create a static head and thereby secure the desired rate of flow through the settling chamber. i

4. An apparatus for purifying water for a boiler comprising an elongated trough adapted to be dispo-sed longitudinally within the steam drum of a boiler with its upper Along g'itudinal edges in theV same plane and submerged a slight depth below the water level in the drum, a water conduit extending longitudinally along the 'bottom of the trough and formed with a longitudinal series of apertures opening into the trough, said apertures diminishing in size from one end of the series to the other,`a water outlet conduit leading from the end of said aper? tured conduit adjacent the smallest aperture and formed with an upward bend extending to substantially the height of the trough to create a static water head, means forming an elongated inclined settling chamber adapted to be located without the boiler structure and below the trouglnisaid outlet conduit having a` portiony leading downwardly from the plane of saidbend to the upper end of :the settling chamber, `a plurality of baille ,platesspaced longitudinally along the settling chamber and extending transversely across it, the said baille plates being formed to permit the water and sediment to flow alongtlie lowerinclined side of the chamber and being, also formed to permit the water to circulate vlongitudinally adjacent theupper side of the chamber, anda disch-arge water conduit leading from the upper side of the lower end of the settling chamber and formed with analpward bend extending a suitable distance above the settling chamber to create ya static head and thereby secure the desired rateof flow through the settling chamber.

5. in apparatus for purifying the water for a boiler vcon'iprising an elongated trough adapted to be arranged within the steam drum. and to extend substantiallythe length thereof with its upper longitudinal edges dispose-dbelowr the water level inthe drum, a water draw-off 4conduit .leading fro-in the bottom of saidvtrough andiformed with an upward bend adapted to create a static water head and to oppose the pressure tending to force the water from-the. trough into said pipe7 a water purifying device adapted to be located without the boiler structure and below the said troughV .said device comprising means forming ,aninclined settling chamber connected at its yupper end with the saidl draw-oil conduit, and a discharge conduit `leading from the lower end of said settling chamberA and formed with yan upward bend extending asuitable distance above the settling chamber to createva static head and thereby ysecure-the desired rate'of flow through the settling chamber and through the trough in accordance with the boiler rating.

6. Arn apparatus for purifying water for a boiler comprising a draw-off conduit adapted to be disposed longitudinally within the steam drum of a boiler and toextend substantially the length of said drum; mea-ns forming an inclined settling chamber adapted to belocated withoutV the boiler Structure and below the steam drum.; an outlet conduit leadingl from said draw-off conduit and adapted to deliver water therefrom to the upper end of said settling chamber. Vsaid draw-ofi' `conduit and said outlet conduit being formed and arranged to cause a substantially even flow of water into the internal channel of the draw-off conduit throughout its length; and a discharge conduit leading from the lower end ofthe settling chamber.

7. An 'apparatus for purifying water for aV boiler, comprising a draw-of`f vconduit adapted to be. disposed vlongitudinally within :the steam. drum -of a boiler and to extend substantially the length of said drum; means forming l an inclined settling chamber adapted to be located without the boiler structure and below the steam drum; anv outletv conduit leading from said draw-off conduit and adaptedto deliver' water from the draw-oil' conduit to the upper end of the settling chamber,k the said draw-olf conduit and the saidoutlet conduitbeing formed and arranged to cause a substantially even flow of water into the internal channel of the draw-oftl conduit throughout the lengthof said channel; and

a discharge conduit leading from the lower end `of the settling chamber and formed withl anl upward bend to `create 4a static water head.

8. An apparatus'for .purifyingthe water fora boiler comprising an elongated trough adapted to be arranged within the steam drum of a boiler and to extend substantially the length of said drum with its upper longitudinal edges disposed Y :below the water level within the drum7 ka water draw-off conduit extending along :the bottom of said tron-gh; a water 4purifying deviceradapted to beA located below the steam drum ;l an outlet conduit leading'from said draw-olfv conduit and adapted to deliver water therefrom to the `said purifyingsdevice, the--drawfoif conduitandv the said outlet conduit being 'formed toi-cause .a flow of water intoV the internal channel of the draw-off conduit sub'- stant-ially evenlythroughout the length of said channel; and la'discharge conduit` leading from the purifying device.`

9. An apparatus for purifying water for a boiler, comprising?v a f draw-off conduit adapted to be disposed longitudinally within the steam drunr of a boilery and to extend Substantially the length of said 'drumg a waterpurifying device adapted to be located below the steam drum; anoutlet conduit leading fromsaid drawroff conduit andadapted to deliver water therefrom to the said purifying device, said draw-off conduit and saidoutlet cond-uitfbeing formed and arranged to causea substantially even flow of water from the steam drum into the internal channel of the -draw-off conduit throughout the length of said channel; and ay discharge conduit 'leading from the purifying` device.y

l0. An apparatus for purifying the water for a boiler', comprising a draw-oft' conduit adapted to be arranged longitudinally within the .steam drum of aboiler and to'extend the greater' portion ofthe length of said drum, Said conduit being formed with a longitudinal series of apertures opening into the drum and diminishing successively in size from one end of the series to the other; a water purifying device adapted to be located Without the boiler structure and below the steam drum; a conduit leading from a point in the draweofl conduit adjacent the smallest of said apertures to said purifying device and adapted to co-operate With said apertures in the draw-oliA1 conduit to admit Water from the steam drum into the drawoff conduit substantially evenly throughout its length; and an outlet conduit leading from the purifying device.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. Y

WILLIAM JyHUGHEs. 

